This mission is now confirmed. See the next post for mission information

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 27, in Kalagush, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from enemy, small arms fire. They were assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

The family of Sgt Chris Birdwell, 25 United States Army(Active Duty), of Windsor, Colorado has invited the Patriot Guard Riders of Colorado to stand in his Honor and render services Wednesday, 05 September, Thursday, 06 September and Friday, 07 September with committal services on Friday at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 2:00pm Shelter Area "C". This will be a 3 part mission

Part 1: Arrival

On Wednesday 05 September, the family of SGT Birdwell has requested the Patriot Guard Riders of Colorado to escort Sgt Chris Birdwell from the Ft Collins/Loveland Airport to Marks Funeral Home in Windsor Colorado. The flight will arrive at 10:55am. There will be no Flag Line at the airport. The family has also requested a Flag Line at Marks Funeral Home, 9293 Eastman Park Dr, Windsor, Colorado 80550 for the arrival of Sgt. Chris Birdwell, United States Army and family members. I need people to show up at the funeral home to man the Flag Line as well.

Part 2:Memorial - two parts On Thursday 06 September the United States Army has requested an escort from their home in Windsor, Colorado to Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado to arrive at Gate # 1 by 08:30am.

On Thursday 06 September the family of Sgt. Chris Birdwell has requested a Flag Line for a viewing at Mark's Funeral Home, 9293 Eastman Park Dr., Windsor, Colorado 80550 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm Thursday evening. Flags are already staged at the funeral home.

Part 3: BurialOn Friday 07 September the family of Sgt. Chris Birdwell and the United States Army has requested a Flag Line at the Resurrection Fellowship Church 6502 E. Crossroads Blvd. Loveland, CO 80538 for Sgt Chris Birdwell's funeral service at 10:00am. Once the service is completed we will then escort Sgt. Birdwell and the family from Windsor Colorado to FT Logan National Cemetery for interment at Shelter Area "C" at 2:00pm. The time at Fort Logan is not their usual time for Shelter Area "C" and has been amended for this Commital Service.

We have been invited by the family of Sgt Chris Birdwell to provide an escort from Marks Funeral Home, 9293 Eastman Park Dr., Windsor Colorado to Resurrection Fellowship Church, 6502 E. Crossroads Blvd, Loveland, Colorado 80538 for the church service at 10:00am.

--"...And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of satisfaction, I served in the United States Navy." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Rick "Speed Bump" ShoafUnited States Navy 1970 - 1998AFCM(AW/NAC) ret

Past State Captain 2011 to 2013Senior Ride Captain, Northern Colorado

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, BUT rather to SKID In BROADSIDE, completely used up, bloody and bruised, totally worn out, and screaming "WOW---WHAT A RIDE"!!

Hello to my Colorado Brothers and Sisters. I will come down on Part 1 and 3 of this mission, and hopefully bring some of my Wyoming Brothers and Sisters with me....I will just need some help with directions and times when they become available....